REGISTERED NURSES' PERCEPTIONS OF LEADERSHIP SYSTEMS OF NURSE MANAGERS AND QUALITY OF WORK LIFE CONDITIONS AND FEELINGS IN COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH SETTINGS.
Contributors: Spalding University (Louisville, Ky.)
Published: 1995
Number of pages: 119
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this descriptive study conducted in community-based health settings was to investigate the leadership systems used by nurse managers, the perceptions of quality of work life (QWL) of registered nurses (RNs), and to determine if a relationship existed between leadership systems and QWL. An adaptation of Harrison's (1967) systems-based model was used to guide the study. A computer selected sample of 668 registered nurses (RNs) was tested from a total population of RNs who worked in community-based health settings in three urban counties in Kentucky. A questionnaire packet was mailed to each subject. The questionnaire contained three parts: The Profile of Characteristics (POC) tool, which identified the leadership systems; The Quality of Worklife Conditions/Feelings (QWL-C/F) instrument, which identified RNs' perceptions of their QWL-C/F; and a demographic tool. Fifty-four percent of the questionnaires was returned and 346 were used for statistical purposes. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlational and ANOVA procedures. Leadership systems were the independent variables with QWL-C/F as the dependent variables.

The most frequently reported leadership system of nurse managers was System 3--Consultative (36%), followed by System 4--Participative (27%) and System 2--Benevolent (27%). QWL conditions were perceived as average and QWL feelings as good. Differences were found in QWL outcomes based on various leadership systems of nurse managers. A relationship existed between the leadership system used by the nurse manager and the QWL-C/F of the registered nurses. As the leadership system moved toward System 4 on the continuum, increased QWL-C/F outcomes were found. Implications for nursing administration, nursing practice, nursing education, and nursing research are reported.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-06, Section: B, page: 3131.

Thesis (ED.D.)--SPALDING UNIVERSITY, 1995.

School code: 0965.